Vince Lombardi was one of the most successful coaches of all time. He’s still the most frequently quoted name in sports. A few notable quotes:
“Mental toughness is essential to success.”
“You never win a game unless you beat the guy in front of you. The score on the board doesn’t mean a thing. That’s for the fans. You’ve got to win the war with the man in front of you. You’ve got to get your man.”
“Success is like anything worthwhile. It has a price. You have to pay the price to win and you have to pay the price to get to the point where success is possible. Most important, you must pay the price to stay there.”
“If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.”
“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”
It’s clear that he places mental toughness in a high regard. I want you to honestly answer this question:
What percentage of your athletic success is mental?
If you’re like most people, you responded anywhere from 50-90%. Now answer this question:
What percentage of your training would be considered mental training?
If you’re like most people, you responded anywhere from 0-10%.
You understand that mental preparation is key to peak performance. You acknowledge that you aren’t spending adequate time performing mental training.
What’s the solution?
I wish it were possible for all of us to play for a coach like Vince Lombardi. Unfortunately, we all missed that boat. Tomorrow I’ll reveal the next best thing. Stay tuned!